City of San Mateo Citywide historic Context Statement
Summary
SCH Number
2026050239
Public Agency
City of San Mateo
Document Title
City of San Mateo Citywide historic Context Statement
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/7/2026
Document Description
Consistent with Strive San Mateo General Plan 2040 Policy CD 5.1 - Comprehensive Approach to Historic Preservation and Action CD 5.9 - Historic Resources Context Statement, the City has prepared a Citywide Historic Context Statement that provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the City’s history and identifies important themes, subthemes, events, and patterns of development. It is also a policy document that provides a framework to guide consistent evaluation of the historic significance of properties and their potential eligibility for local listing. The Citywide Historic Context Statement does not designate individual properties or include individual property evaluations.
Contact Information
Name
Zachary Dahl
Agency Name
City of San Mateo
Job Title
Director, Community Development
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
San Mateo
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
San Francisco Bay Area
Other Location Info
Citywide.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 6 – Sec. 15306. Information Collection
Reasons for Exemption
The Citywide Historic Context Statement was also found to be exempt pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 (Information Collection) because it is an informational document that highlights trends and patterns of development and their relationship to significant elements of San Mateo history, and functions as a policy document to help guide the evaluation of specific historic resources. Therefore, the project meets the intent of CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 and, pursuant to this exemption, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from CEQA review.
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
Section 15061(b)(3) Common Sense
Reasons for Exemption
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies only to activities that may cause a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. The Citywide Historic Context Statement updates and clarifies the City’s policies and processes surrounding historic preservation, but does not materially change or expand their applicability. Therefore, the proposed project meets the criteria of CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and, pursuant to this exemption, it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment and is exempt from CEQA.
County Clerk
San Mateo
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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